NARAL Applauds Rep. Jayapal’s Medicare for All Proposal’s Provision that Makes Clear That Abortion Access is a Fundamental Right

After Representative Jayapal introduced her Medicare for All proposal, which eliminates the devastating abortion coverage restrictions (Hyde Amendment), NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue issued the following statement:

“Representative Jayapal has been an unwavering champion for women and reproductive freedom and we applaud her leadership today. Rep. Jayapal’s Medicare for All proposal recognizes the simple truth that women will never be equal members in society until we have full access to reproductive healthcare. Put simply, a right is not a right if you cannot access it. The introduction of this bill is a reaffirmation of so much work led by women of color for decades in service of the communities that suffer the most when contraception and abortion care is offered on a pay to play basis. At a time when women’s reproductive freedom hangs by a thread, Rep. Jayapal’s proposal draws a line in the sand, sending a clear message that women’s rights are not up for debate.

“This provision reflects the will of the vast majority of Americans, including the base of voters driving the Democratic party, that gave our elected officials a clear mandate this past November to protect and expand reproductive freedom. We are stronger when we stand tall for reproductive freedom, and anyone who hopes to lead the party in 2020 and beyond should listen to the voices loudly and proudly supporting the protection and expansion of reproductive freedom.”

NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”